Filling In The Blanks
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 9 or any of its characters.
Chapter 43: Death Defying Race
Everything was blurry for the entire ride home. He remembered pain – a lot of it… He remembered it pressing down on him, so hard that he wasn't sure if he could continue breathing… And then a warm hand would be placed on his shoulder, and water would be coaxed down his dry throat, and things would feel okay again… Then it would build back up, and the cycle would repeat itself.
That was the most distinguished part of his ride back from Terra. He thought it ironic, in his half-slumber, that he was fearful of death on the way there, but also frightened for it on the way home as well… But the most important thing was that he had survived the assault for now, and that's all that mattered…
He saw unfamiliar faces gaze upon him, lips moving, but the Genome couldn't make out their words. At this point he would groan, a cough building in his throat, and his eyes would roll, eyelids would fall shut, and he would lapse into unconsciousness.
Sometimes he would hear Blank talk to him, other times, have whispered conversations with someone else in the room, but he was aware (when he was awake of course) that his best friend never left his side.
There were blank spots in his memory where he seemed to be suspended in nothingness. He would simply be there, wondering when it was time to get to where they were going, though he had no memory of where they were headed, and where they just came from… and then he would wake up, and suddenly remember.
There was one point when he awoke slightly to a hurried woman, with long auburn hair, placing a delicate hand to his forehead, declaring he had a fever, and that he needed help.
So during his sick time, he dreamt. He hadn't had those dreams since Alexandria really, that showed him things he hadn't known about his prior life, but he did remember some things better now. He recreated more memories with Tantalus, and remembered discovering the world, but one that stuck with him the most was peculiar and unsettling.
When he awoke he was in a bed. It was large, but there were others in it as well. Sapphire eyes burned in protest to this new light, as the boy latched onto the large and awkward blankets of the bed, in hopes of shielding himself.
Sitting up soundlessly, he saw five other children sleeping. One was a Bermecian who was a little older, long silver hair cascading around her as she slumbered, and the others were human eyes swollen and red from cries and nightmares.
Zidane rubbed his head as his brain seemingly pounded against his skull. Letting out a soft groan, he planted his feet on the floor, and suddenly remembered the occurrences not that long ago. Yelping, he jumped up, breath leaving him quickly as he tried to survey his surroundings.
This stirred the other children, and seeing his startled look, they began to cry again, except for the Bermecian girl.
"Mommy!" He croaked out, voice hoarse, "Daddy!" Stumbling up the nearest staircase, he thought perhaps it would lead to the place he had left his battered parents, but really they would still be alive, and it would all be a dream.
Unfortunately, that wasn't what happened. He shot up, skipping the rickety looking steps, and stumbled onto a large area, completely made of wood. The sun's rays danced upon the ship, glimmering upon the water and bouncing back into his matching azure eyes. Tears threatened to fall that he tried to fight back, because he didn't want to look like a child.
"Hey…" There was a soft voice from behind him, and he flinched, wishing to be alone. He didn't know where he was, or how he got there, and that's what scared him the most. What became of his home? He wasn't sure… "Hey, it's okay…"
He turned to see a tall woman, eyes shimmering and sincere. "Are you frightened?" She held out her hand, "It's alright, I won't hurt you…"
His eyes shifted from her face, to her long, delicate fingers, as he made a decision. Slowly, he slipped his hand into hers, "Where am I?"
"We found you in Terra, dear…" She smiled delicately, "we've taken you away from that place – you were lucky to have survived."
"Why did you take me?" He snapped childishly, "I want my mom and dad! I want my home!" She sighed, and pulled him tenderly across the deck, to overlook the beautiful ocean.
Its hue was darker than that of the sky, but both blended together as seagulls peacefully wafted overhead, once in a while diving to find fish. It was only over the ocean that the world wasn't corrupt with the plague Kuja fed it.
"Though I know you do not wish to hear this now… You parents gallantly passed away, saving you… You must have collapsed, and the soldiers left you be. Terra was taken over by black mages and Kuja's forces… He's taking over the world slowly, and we –" she gestured to all the people working on board, whether they be talking to each other, lending a hand, or speaking with others who seemed to be survivors, "- travel to find ones who need help… Who've been abandoned by fate in this cruel war…"
"Where are we going?" Everything was so hard to grasp quickly.
"We're taking you to Lindblum. There, at least, is safe. It's too powerful a city – they cannot hurt the citizens there."
"Who is they?"
"The mages, soldiers, and worst of all, Kuja… Never, if you can help it, cross their paths… They're dangerous people and creatures."
Zidane didn't say anymore, but only latched onto the woman, leaning against her for support as he watched the waves collapsed over each other in a melodic way. It made him sleepy just watching.
"You should rest, child…" She affectionately pushed the hair from his eyes, "My name is Rose… I can help you if you need, whenever…" She handed him a bottle of water, and ushered him back down the stairs.
He saw the human children were already fast asleep again, but the Bermecian stared at him as he walked downstairs.
"Who are you?" He asked her, curious.
"My name is Freya… What of yours?"
"Zidane," He greeted, sitting on the bed next to her, eyeing something strapped to her back, "What's that?"
She pulled it out quickly, causing him to yelp and fall back on off the bed, thumping onto the ground.
"It is a spear."
"You fight?" He asked in awe.
She seemed to let on a fair smile, "I could show you…" She pulled something from her boot, and handed it to him. It was a stubby dagger, rustic and awkward, though with a beautiful ruby in the middle, "You can have this… Just do not lose the ruby! It is very precious!"
He smiled at her, taking in her features, "You and I are going to be friends…"
?
Beatrix shook her head as she watched the raven haired girl, hair shining a dark chocolate in the sunlight, "It's her favorite hobby now, you know…"
"I do not blame her…" He sighed, as though regretful to say it, "If I were in her position, people I care about as dearly as she cares for him and Blank, I would wait all the time as well…"
She glanced at him, wondering for a moment if he was kidding or not, "It's a cruel joke you play, Steiner…"
"That is no joke, Beatrix…" He grabbed her hand for a moment, then thought better of it, and let it go. "I do hope they arrive soon… We need some sort of morale to get us going."
"Cid's ship is finished," She offered with a shrug. Though people were delighted, they worried about the Tantalus' confrontation with Kuja… They wondered what was happening.
He traced the awkward and jagged lines of the bark on the nearest tree, before glancing back at her, "You know people are worried…"
"Some for the wrong reasons though…" Some of the resistance, less concerned with the group, were more concerned that if they failed, would Kuja come after them?
If they succeeded so thoroughly, or failed that badly, either way, the ship would land in front of them, and they had to wait until the doors of the machine opened before they would know for sure who won the battle.
"But far more are worried for the people." He watched the skies, staring in hopes that perhaps by some powerful will, he could pull the ship back faster.
Beatrix sighed and kicked her boot at the grass lightly, glaring as she watched Bronson approach the girl, "I do not like him with her…"
Steiner made some sort of a grunting noise – perhaps it was to agree, or to laugh at her opinion, she didn't know.
Staring up at the sky, she watched the wisps of clouds slowly pass over them, the sun bright and hopeful, far away from this wretched world.
But as she watched, a small dot appeared in the sky. At first, she thought nothing of it – barely even saw it. But soon, it got bigger, and kept growing still. She glanced at Steiner, wondering if she was just seeing things… but he stared with a dumb look on his face… No, he must have seen it too.
They were both jostled from a yell – Dagger saw it next – and with a yelp, she was up and running, trying to figure out where it would land.
Soon people emerged from all sorts of different places, yelling and screaming, eyes widening with sheer awe.
Someone was back from Terra…
People waited anxiously, staying far enough back so the ship would have enough of a place to land. Dagger was holding the front, eyebrows knit together with a large concern. No one knew who would waltz out of that ship… and who wouldn't…
Beatrix and Steiner shoved their way to the front, hands ever ready on the hilt of their swords. If Kuja's army was going to emerge to crush them, the two would be the first ready, and the first to protect the resistance.
Finally, it settled on the ground, and seemed to take a moment, before doors slid open. It was higher tech than any ship they'd ever seen in their entire life, and awe struck eyes wandered curiously.
For a moment, nothing filled the walk way, and no sounds emerged. More people placed hands on weapons – they would have figured Tantalus would be bounding out to see everyone by now.
Dagger bit down on her lip, stepping forward, but being held back by Cid. Though he was just as anxious to see who survived, he knew better than to get too terribly close.
Noise slowly shuffled in the craft, and surprisingly Cinna was the first to be seen. He was walking backwards, and only turned around to hop off the ledge of the door. He froze at such a homecoming.
When the front wave saw it was him, applause filled the air, along with cheers, as some people moved forward to see him. A grin spread over his features, as he lined his sideburns, eyes deviant.
Soon Ruby showed herself as well, and with them, Zenero and a small group of people they had never seen before. People were wary of the newcomers, but when the newly recruited rebels saw how many already fought for their cause, they broke out in their own cheers and laughter, sobs and smiles. It immediately bonded the foreign groups.
They were all ushered off the ship, and slowly, Marcus followed up the rear. Immediately, those who were closest to the members of Tantalus noticed the fact that two were not present.
"Zidane… Blank…" Dagger cried out, "Where are they?"
Marcus was the bearer of bad news, and sighed, dragging himself towards them. The main party huddled together, along with a few others who wished to know the fate of the Genome. Vivi nervously shifted from one foot to the other, and even Steiner was anxious to know.
"You guys had better come with me… I'll show you around your newly acquired airship…" He turned then, saying no more, and Beatrix gripped Dagger's hand.
Tears began rolling down her cheeks as she gulped in a breath, trying to stay in control, "Marcus…"
"Just come on…"
So the group of Dagger, Steiner, Freya, Vivi, Quina, Regent Cid himself, Beatrix, and Eiko, with Ruby and Cinna slowly following behind, trailed Marcus into the richly designed airship.
Its purple interior – the color of royalty – glittered the walls, with designs etched into the very being of the ship. Its corridors echoed the footsteps of the many riders, and finally, they reached the wooden control center of the ship.
"It's pretty simple to fly, and not unlike the others… This is probably the most friendly looking room in the whole ship… Otherwise, it looks dark, and creepy… We should probably change it…"
He sighed and walked into another hallway, and slowly pushed open the door to a room, but put a finger to his lips, indicating to be at least a little quiet. Dagger stumbled inside, and what she saw before her truly frightened her. Gasps escaped behind her, and she stepped forward, hoping to get a better look.
Blank turned, and though one couldn't spot his eyes, in just his posture, anybody could tell he hadn't slept in a few days. He looked bruised – perhaps from a fight, but not nearly as bad as the one sitting on the bed.
He was still at the moment, but there was a bucket of what she assumed bile and blood next to the bed. His hair was damp and pushed from his face, roughly bandaged arms, stained with splotched of crimson blood at his sides. His leg was propped up on as many pillows as could be comfortable.
"Zidane…" Vivi's voice was small as everyone made their way into the room.
"What happened?" Eiko whispered, horrified from the sight. This was not the same lively and kind hearted blonde that laughed with them every day, despite the situation at hand. This was a soldier, scarred by war, fever among him.
"Kuja did show up…" Marcus explained, turning away from the scene, "We thought we lost him… It was our plan to steal the ship, while Zidane held him off…"
"Why would you do something so foolish?" Dagger's words slipped before she could help it.
He sighed and turned away, shaking his head. "If you would have seen Terra, Dagger, you would have understood… Zidane wanted to do it –"
"That doesn't matter!" She cried out, leaning towards Zidane. Those words suddenly broke her out of her horrible thoughts and images. "That doesn't matter…" She repeated, but in a whole new perspective.
Removing her gloves, so as to not stain that last ones she had left, she pressed her delicate hands over Zidane's chest. Since they had yet to have an absolute permanent home, she rarely ever took off her gloves, and she grimaced as raw feeling touched her skin.
Closing her eyes, she summoned the energy in her hands, and released it, an invisible haze washing over Zidane's body. She opened her chocolate eyes, scanning his being for any sort of change. When nothing happened, she cured him once more, waiting.
Everyone held their breath as they looked on. She sucked in a breath, and pressed a harder cure out, though it drained her. She finally pulled her hands away, trying to hide her pant, but catch her breath at the same time.
"We need to move him out… now…"
Steiner nodded and turned, but saw that most who had come with them to see the condition of the blonde were shell shocked – scared of what they saw. Kuja's power annihilated, let's face it, their most powerful ally, and Kuja probably wasn't even harmed. How was this going to turn out well?
He grumbled and moved forward, examining the sheets. "He shouldn't be moved on such a thing…" He shook his head, "Find something –"
"Got it," Ruby said immediately, laying out the matted sheet out on the ground. Slowly, Steiner lifted Zidane, and placed him equally as carefully on the ground. The movement of the victim broke most out of their trance, and Marcus moved to pick up the other end of the sheet.
"Coming through people… Just another war casualty – come on, nothing to see here – don't touch him you fool! He's not dead you know!" Steiner's barking voice was heard echoing off of the walls in the hall.
"Blank…" Dagger whispered to him. This gave the cue for most to evacuate the room, searching for other Tantalus members to get the story from. Everyone craved it though, from Zidane's point of view.
He looked at her, anger gripping his face, "I know Dagger, I'm sorry I couldn't save him before all this happened!"
"No!" She lashed out, grabbing him in a fretful hug, "I wanted to thank you!" She whispered to him harshly. "You brought him back alive…" Blank's depression broke then, and for the first time since having his last laugh on the steps with the blonde before he allowed his best friend to descend into the deserted streets of Terra alone, he felt hope, and let on a grin.
"Thank you…" He whispered back, and laughed when she kissed his cheek.
"Let's go…" She nodded, her eyes glimmering. Though Zidane was in a rough position, right now he was breathing, and that's what mattered to her. "I think you need to be introduced to our home…"
Pulling at his hand, she pressed to move out of the room; Blank followed happily, as he had seen far too much of that place in the last few days.
"What was it like… in Terra?" Dagger whispered, as though the subject was to be a hushed one.
Blank answered her quietly, "Before we had to plan out bait and an attack, it was actually… fun…" He laughed, "I had a blast working with Tantalus again…" He scratched the back of his head, "It's like Zidane had never left."
She stared down at the ground, "And when he found out he was to be the bait?"
"He figured it out by himself," Blank nodded slowly, "He found out on the way to Terra, and was pretty calm about it…" Sheepishly, he added, "I was the most upset about that one… Ruby too…" the redhead's eyes scanned the area, "Marcus promised he'd have a plan to save the kid…" Though the topic was miserable, he couldn't help but smirk, "But I don't think that fucker had a plan, even when we moved in to save Zidane…"
"Could you…" She was back to her whispering, "Tell me about it?"
Blank looked startled, "About the attack?" She nodded. "Why?"
It was her turn to sweep the horizon with her gaze, wondering for a moment why exactly she wanted to know. "I was close to losing Zidane… Ask anyone – I waited out here everyday, worried sick about my two dearest friends," she flashed a shy smile at Blank, indicating he was one of the two, "Vivi was worried too – even Steiner was anxious! Everybody knew Zidane's chances of dying…" She shook her head, her raven hair sweeping her shoulders, "I guess I was just…" she choked on her words, "You know I have feelings for him…"
"I know…" Blank softened then, and stopped, placing a hand on her shoulder, "But why would you want to know the horrors of that attack?"
She fidgeted, "I know he won't tell me when he wakes up… Maybe he'll tell others, but I'll never hear it from his mouth exactly. I need to know what's happening Blank," she suddenly clutched his arms, desperate, "Everybody always feels like they need to keep the Princess in the dark, when in reality – I need to know most of what's going on! I'm the leader of this rebellion, even though I don't make most decisions…" Tears pricked at her eyes, but they were from the desperateness of her words, not because of sorrow, "I want to know what I have to expect, falling in love with Zidane."
Blank didn't answer. He stared at her, a dumbfounded looked flickering onto his expression. Right as it slipped out, she covered her mouth, as though she peeped a curse word. Both of them blinked at each other, before she turned away, hands balling into fists. He chuckled and grabbed one of them, staring off into the horizon with her. The sun was falling in the sky, casting elongated shadows across the wide open grounds.
"It's okay that you are…" He whispered in reassurance, and held onto her hand until it slowly uncurled. "I just get to make fun of you more about it then…"
She gasped and pushed him, "Don't!" that only earned a snicker. Turning suddenly serious, she faced him completely, "Don't tell Zidane…"
"I promise…" He nodded, and continued walking. "I don't know if you want to know, Dagger… You are a strong girl, I don't deny that – but what we saw out there was scary… Someone more powerful than probably our whole group together, just crumble at Kuja's feet. It was disturbing…" He decided then he would have to tell her, "I know… I know that when we left him to get the ship, they were yelling about a girl named Elouise. I couldn't hear the whole conversation, and then Zidane tried attacking Kuja. They were ridiculous, unprepared attacks, and finally Kuja landed one on him. When we came back to rescue him, fire was all around him, he was bleeding and bruised, and we don't know what happened – just that we weren't sure he was alive."
She was quiet for a long while. It was hard to hear – the person she cared about most, even though she had only known him for short of a year, get busted up like that. Blank mumbled an apology, but she shook her head.
"There's nothing to be sorry about… You told me what happened; that's what I wanted."
"Okay…" His answer didn't sound so sure, so the rest of their walk was silent.
Though the stroll was short lived, as they stepped into the forest. He was in awe. She pointed out the trunk with the retractable bark that you can slip into an underground way once more. It wasn't completely finished, and they weren't sure if it was as safe as Dali, but it had mostly the same set up, which meant it was big, had a decently running kitchen ("Already? Jeez, do we have food to cook? I'm starving!") and rooms for some members. Wooden panels still lined their walkways, just for extra support, but they had done some magic to make sure that the dirt didn't turn to mud and collapse on them.
After the underground tour was finished, they took to the trees. She explained how one tree over here, and then another over there, had notches in it, going up into the thick leaves of the trees, so high up that you could hardly see anything up there. There were walk ways and bridges, very well camouflaged from the ground. Inside these trees, and to the sides of them, etc, were small tree houses and rooms for other members of the resistance. It seemed the underground area, and the treetop space spanned for miles, even if it was just enough to fit the resistance members.
"I can't believe it…" He breathed, shaking his head, "I honestly cannot believe it. You guys did all this?"
"It's nothing compared to what Tantalus just did…"
"But it's huge! And well constructed – there was no haste – just like in Dali!" She beamed at his compliment, knowing one earned from Blank meant it was sincere and impressive. She laughed at his comment.
"I'm glad you like it…" She said quietly, and turned to stare over the tree tops, before seating herself on the edge, dangling her feet over. The redhead made a move to follow, but his vision swam before him when he glanced down, so he opted for leaning against the tree trunk.
"What's been going on since we've been away, besides all this?"
"Well –"
"Garnet!" Blank whirled around – who the hell called the girl Garnet? She leapt up, and he came running at her, the height barely phasing him as he lifted her off the ground and spun.
For being a pretty emotionally constipated teenager, Blank's mouth dropped, no attempts at hiding his surprise being made.
"I've done it! I've actually done it!"
Her eyes seemed to brighten, "You got the spell?" Glee overtook his face as he nodded, and she embraced him tightly, "Bronson! That's wonderful!"
He set her back down and grinned, ignoring Blank's present, and sparking his anger. "Whatever." He grumbled loud enough for Dagger to hear, "Guess that's the first thing Zidane'll hear about too…" He walked off, and her eyes suddenly widened.
Blank was never one to judge too quickly, but when it came to Zidane he was very protective. There was some new comer who barged in, and thought he could call Dagger by her actual name, just pick her up and throw her around as though Zidane wasn't even a real person? That was disgusting. The guy had the essence of asshole and –
"Blank!" She yelled, "Wait!" He stomped on, ignoring her. "Blank! Would you just stop to listen!"
"Aren't you keeping your boyfriend waiting!"
"You don't understand! I've just been teaching him this spell, and –"
"He seems to think it's a lot more than just being your student," the boy scoffed, and she glared.
"You just came back! How can you make assumptions like that?"
"I think if anybody else saw how he just came up to you, and swept you off your feet, they'd peg it pretty easily too." He answered lowly, cautiously.
"That's not fair!" She stomped her foot and stared at him.
He turned around, but thought better of it and turned to her, suddenly pulling something out of a pocket of his. It was a folded piece of paper, the outside labeled Dagger in a handwriting she wasn't familiar with.
Cocking her head, he spit the words at her, "Read it."
With shaky hands, she unfolded the paper, as Blank took his leave. Bronson crept behind her, about to ask what she was reading, before she silenced him and told him she'd like to read this alone.
?
"She's turned out to be a fine young woman…"
Zidane's eyes flickered as he turned his head. He felt his damp cheek touch a pillow, and slowly, his eyelids opened. They were caked with sleep, and he felt too sore to move. When was the last time he'd woken up?
"Hello Zidane…"
That voice… Azure eyes focused in on a girl standing, staring out the door of the room.
"Look what's happened to you…" She sighed, brushing a piece of blonde hair behind her ear. "You're always getting into trouble when I'm not here…"
"It's to save people that I care about…" He found himself answering, mumbling back to her. The bed was so comfortable…
"So then why haven't you found me yet?" She turned to face him, emerald eyes piercing his. Recognition suddenly hit him, and he propped himself up on one painful elbow.
"Elouise?" She smiled.
"So you do remember me?"
"What are you doing here? How did you find me? I've been searching all over for you!"
"And I've been waiting for you, Zidane…" She tilted her head, "Wondering where you've been, and why you'd leave me behind for all of them…?"
"Blank he – we were best friends… we are best friends! And Dagger –"
"Both of which whose spot I used to be in…" Her eyes were tender, but there was underlying fire flickering deep within them. "I've grown up a lot Zidane, and you don't even have a clue."
"You're here now –"
She shrugged, "Maybe not…" She took careful steps forward towards him, and put a hand to his head, "You're burning up…" Those blonde waves fell in front of her face once more, the braid in the bun loosening, "Take care of yourself, Zidane… Come find me before you decide to fall off of the face of the planet, huh?" Her laughter seemed to float in the air, still there for a few hazy moments after she had stopped.
"You never told me why you're here…" He placed a ginger hand on her face.
She smiled again, but it was a little more twisted this time, "Didn't Kuja tell you? I've become a very fine young woman…" Her eyelashes swept over her cheeks, "I'm supposed to kill you, Zidane… but I might just let you go for now… to see why you've done what you've done…"
"I don't understand."
"It's not important right now…" She leaned down and kissed his forehead, "Go to sleep for now… and maybe sometime when you wake up again, we can go for breakfast at Libby's again with Avalanche, Griffin, and Vienna…"
"That sounds nice…" He mumbled, slurring even more than he had a few moments ago. When had he laid back down, instead of being on his elbow?
"Good-bye, Zidane…"
"Mmmph…" He closed his eyes again, and heard her voice one last time, but never heard the words that she said.
He floated for awhile, being awake, but not enough to comprehend anything. He simply thought about his conversation with the blonde girl for awhile. Oh how he had missed her voice – her face… she looked exactly like she had before.
He smiled a little, letting out a small giggle, a sound purely made by his fever and the delusions his head was having. But suddenly, that changed. His eyes snapped open, and he'd never felt a worse, stinging pain in all of his life.
Almost crying out as he shot up straight, he glanced around the room. Elouise had been there? He threw the measly blanket off of him and jumped up, running from the room. "Elouise!" He screamed, but the adrenaline left him just as quickly as it came, and he crumbled to the floor with a yelp. He'd just walked on his broken leg.
As his knees slammed into the ground, he glanced around as he bit back tears. That was a worse pain than he had ever felt in his life, and now he had no reconciliation about where they were at all. There were wooden boards hammered into the wall, and dirt dusting the floorboards below him.
Just where was –
"Zidane!" There was a gasp, and he glanced around, suddenly seeing Freya rushing over in his line of vision.
"She's here, Freya!" His vision swam, and when she told him she didn't understand, irritation swept over him, as though he expected her to know. "Her!" He almost sobbed out. He wavered on the spot – he could feel it now – and he fought back a sleep overcoming him. The pain licked up his leg, and from the sore spots on his body, but as he tried to get up, he crumpled to the ground in a heap, moaning.
Vaguely, he remembered the arms on him, and the small voice that talked to him, before he fell back into a restless sleep.
?
"Somebody needs to come quickly!" There was the slightest tone of hysteria in her voice… but she swore she was completely calm.
Vivi, Steiner, Beatrix, Marcus, Blank, and Dagger were all in the kitchen. It wasn't so much a meeting, or a conversation – they just all happened to be in there. Marcus and Blank were scrounging up some food, trying to scope out the kitchen on their first day back. The winds were cold and restless, and he felt comfort in a familiar façade of safety (like the kitchen of Dali), and Steiner and Beatrix were mapping out a scouting route. Kuja was bound to hunt them down soon enough. And Dagger? She sat, depressed simply because she had nowhere else to be. She felt too heavily about Blank's words to continue speaking to Bronson for the day, but too stubborn about him mistaking it for something more to talk to him or see Zidane.
And now Freya stood in the doorway, all eyes on her, "I just found Zidane…"
Confusion swept across the room as she sucked in a breath. There wasn't a lot of time to explain, but she figured she wouldn't get any support if she didn't say something more. "He was screaming for some girl named Elouise…" She shook her head, silver hair sliding over her shoulder, "Up, and trying to run into the hallway on his leg. I saw him and brought him back into his bed, but," again a shake of her head, "he fell unconscious, and I'm fearful."
There seemed to be a moment of hesitation, the information trying to be processed.
"Wait, what?" Marcus asked, as Blank sprang from his chair and stumbled down the hall. They heard him clattering along the floorboards until his footsteps fell from their range of hearing.
Beatrix and Vivi moved next, quick to get supplies from the cabinets, "Did you feel him at all? Was he warm?"
"Very… he seemed to have fever to the point of illusions…" She shook her head, "I had no idea what he was talking about."
Then too, Steiner and finally Dagger began to move about as well. "Well what the fuck? That's the first time he's woken up since he's been back!" Steiner grunted, hurriedly following Beatrix as she raced down the hall.
By the time they made it to Zidane's room, Blank was already ripping blankets off of him, and shucking his gloves from him, trying to get the clothing containing the heat off of his body.
"Is this one of those fevers that need to be sweat out? Or their temperature needs to be reduced?" Marcus growled, trying to get the pillows out from around his body. They weren't much, but they definitely controlled heat if someone were laying on them.
Beatrix strode over and felt his head, and cried out in panic, "His temperature is way too high… If it gets much higher, he's going to die!"
"Dammit!" Steiner cursed, rushing out of the room to seek more aid. Vivi cautiously moved towards the bed.
"Zidane!" He cried out, eyes shining worriedly, "Zidane you have to wake up!" He hadn't seen the blonde for a very long time, but that didn't stop the mage from hoping that their bond was still as tight. "Zidane! You can't die!"
Dagger stood there dumbly, not knowing what to do. Here was the man that she might be in love with, his life fading faster than he could gain it back, two of his best friends stripping him down, Vivi trying to plead him back to life, and Beatrix drenching him with ice cold water.
And yet she could find nothing to do. There was no motivation to move whatsoever, and she didn't understand why she was so choked up.
"Dagger! Are you going to answer?" Freya shook her shoulders, and the girl's chocolate eyes finally came into focus.
"What?" She asked, the haze clearing from around her mind, snapping her back into reality.
"Can you do anything? Is there any sort of spell or anything?" Freya's eyes were wide now, as the situation heightened behind her.
Dagger shook her head, "I just don't know…"
Blank walked over to her, and glared in her direction, temporarily distracted from Zidane, "Dagger! Stop with this bullshit! I know you're upset over what I said!" His gaze seemed to harden with determination, "So then prove me wrong! You need to help him, or he's going to die!"
Squeezing her eyes shut, she wished this could all just be a dream, before they opened again. She blinked a couple times before pushing forward, and placing her hands on his face. Dagger cast a regen spell on him, and whipped around to face Vivi.
"Vivi! Do you know how to cast a simple blizzard spell? Nothing too powerful."
He nodded, confused as to what she was asking. "Okay, I need you to cast that on Zidane, on his shoulders and hands."
"What?" Everyone blinked at her in shock.
She shook her head, "I'll keep him alive with cures, but right now, his temperature needs to be dropped, and blizzard is the only way that he'll be able to do it!"
"O-okay…" Vivi didn't know if it was such a good idea, but he trusted Dagger, and even more so wanted Zidane to live. "Here it goes…" He cast out a light blizzard – as light as he could, but she shook her head.
"More!" She demanded, and focused on him, watching for signs to see if his health was going to fail. He groaned, and his eyes rolled – at least it was a sign he was still alive. But she knew it wasn't enough. The spell Vivi was casting was probably going to put a lot of strain on his body – even more so than what he endured with Kuja, because he was already weak.
But she knew what she was doing… Right?
?
She sat leaning against the pillar, watching over the baron land that used to once be a lush green, and vibrant emerald. Closing her matching eyes, she felt the cool breeze on her skin.
Kuja was furious…
An airship – a barely completed one they had obtained from Lindblum was sent to pick him and three quarters of the army up. He managed to blame enough people for the Tantalus escape to leave them, abandoned in Terra to explain to livid citizens why half of their city was destroyed.
She opened her eyes again, brushing her hair from her face.
"Why, Zidane? Why did it have to be like this?" She shook her head. They were on completely opposite sides now, and she hadn't seen him in around a year, where everything had been different.
Life continued, of course but there was always that nagging feeling in the back of her mind that everything was all wrong. Kuja had taken a special liking to her – and Avalanche too… She hadn't been able to find Griffin and Vienna… she just hoped wherever they were, they were alright.
And that brought her back to the blonde in question. Did he realize how important he was in this war? Did he realize that he was fighting for the wrong side? She had lived with him in Alexandria for a long time… how in the world had he forgotten?
She flipped open her book, and skimmed the words.
My dear sweet, we could leave the troubles behind, and thou shall be free of kindling fire of hate and rage, and thy shall protect you from all as you spread your wings and fly!
She'd read this somewhere before… Zidane's play… Now in this Lord Avon book… It was so confusing – how could he have come up with something already published, but never be noticed about it? She knew it sounded familiar when he had talked to her about it…
She missed those days, and she wanted to know… She needed answers – just why was he doing what he was doing? It was tearing her apart…
?
Vivi sat in the woods, up in the tree tops. Many, so accustomed to life underground, hated staring off into the trees, woozy of the height. To him though? It reminded him of the cavern that he and his grandfather used to live in. The sight he would see as he walked outside to find his family spices, so he could contribute to a delicious meal.
The black mage wondered if he'd ever see his grandpa ever again. It made him sigh – Zidane had promised to help him try, but… He wasn't so sure if it would happen It had been a long struggle to get Zidane's temperature into a safety zone again, and long after he left, worn out and exhausted of mana, a few people worked on trying to help him.
"Zidane…" He murmured, staring down towards the path.
But something caught his eye. He watched as it waddled on, as though it knew these woods by heart. It was a strangely shaped figure – short and plump, his head pointing up to the sky. Vivi's eyes widened, and he began scampering away, looking for a way down.
In the end though, he could only keep his golden eyes on the figure as he stumbled silently across bridges, until he got to the end of their progress in the trees. Slowly starting down the tree, he took a breath as he jumped from branch to branch – he didn't want to lose him!
Stumbling over his own two feet, he made it to the path, the wind howling around him. When had it suddenly gotten chilly, and why in the world were the leaves looking dull and dead, instead of the vibrant colors they normally were?
A gust of wind blew Vivi back, and he grabbed onto his hat, yanking it down until it covered his face as he rushed forward. When it was finally over, however, and his bright yellow eyes faced forward once more, the burly creature was gone.
In complete awe, he wondered forward, letting his guard down as he slowly moved closer to where he'd last seen the figure.
"What the –" he pushed forward with his hands, and that same gust of wind reached him, pushing him as he continually shoved into it, trying to beat it.
It ended abruptly, and he fell flat onto his face. Wincing, he glanced up and looked around, eyes widening at what he saw in the distance.
A village… And the creature he had seen walking towards it… Looked exactly like him.
?
A/N: Wow! Talk about needing about ten more lines to end the chapter, and I haven't been able to do that in like… a couple of months! I hope you enjoyed this one though! :D
-zesty-
